Inking mechanism for printing machines



Aug. 6, 1940. c. cHlsHoLM 2,210,064

INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed Sept. l5, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A 'TORNEYS Aug. 6, 1940. CHEHOLM 2,210,064

INKING M ECHANISM FOR I RINTING MACHINES Filed Sept. 15, 1938 2 Sheets-Shea?.v 2

concerned with the type; of printing machine Patented Aug. s,

mxmdf S "PA'rsN-rfo-Flucs s saresti" camina om inventidn'relatesto an mechanism for printing machines, and is wherein there is a rmember carrying a plurality of printing `characters and wherein more of the characters are inked in one .cycle of operation than are used to make an impression in one cycle of operation. In s ch a machine my mechanism operates to remove excess'ink which tends to accumulate on the unused characters.

My invention is well adapted forembodiment in `a machine having a plurality oftypecarrying wheels side by side which may be shifted axially to select a wheel for printing, the whole set being to select one desired character for the impression.

In such plural embodiment the accumulation'oi mechanism may be mounted' in a frame which is moved to make the impressions and insuch case I give the fountain roll partialrotations by a stationarily mounted pawl which coacts with a ratcheton the fountain roll to turn the same by rocking frame I0, carrying a N0. 2,165,223, July 11, 1939. y

reason'of the movement of said wheel-carrying frame. 'I'his is also a feature of my invention.

My invention provides simple and conwenient mechanism for supplying ink and for removing the surplus ink, keeping the type uniformly inked,- so that al1 of the characters are ready to make a of a finger key.

The present applicationis a continuation in part of my copendingI application No."62,46'1, filed February 5,4 1936` which matured as Patent The invention is hereafter more claims.

In the drawings,v Fig. el is anend of a printing machine inkirigjmecha-l nism; Fig. 2 isa plan of Figs. 3 and 4'are verticallseotions mechanism, the planes of thesections dicated by the correspondingly numberedlines on Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is afront elevation gol', the' type wheel mechanism; Fig.l 6 is a diagrammatic perspective of gearing and other partspemployed'in the operation of the printing mechanism'. I

B/riefiy, the embodiment shown 4 comprises a plurality of type wheels mounted side by side, and designated 20 as a unit. These wheels are rigid with each other and any one of them7 may coact with'a narrow the inking -rnechiuiisimof the being -inrotated while inv coaction with an inking roller time under the control desmbd in connection with thefdra'wings and the essentiall novel characteristics are summarized Vin the.

dass@ i keyboard, oi'

tain'trough ,'in whicha is. 1ers. serial No. 230.034 v s amici. 1an-15e) paper carrier ll und/er the control of `a shift key (not shown) whichgthroush alink I2, may' shift-the' rocking frame axially of the wheels. The rocking frame carries also the inking system-in constant engagement with the type wheels. AThe l chone key is shownat il, controls the rotati o! the type wheels to ink them f -and bring-the desired characterinto registration with the platen Il, which registration is autolmaetcitlli? followed vby the swinging of'theirame 1 0 to ect the impression.v Injthe present embodiment of the invention I have illustrated'three type wheels 2h12, 2 3, each oi which .is-mounted on a shaft 2l, which is carried by the rocking frame III.. This frame is swingabiy mounted on a shaft I0l ll which is iournalled in the mainframe 8. As shown, each typewheel carries on its periphery two annular sets of type. The type in the lefthand band'or ring of type shown in Fig. 5 'may comprise upper case type, whereas the right-hand band of the same :wheel includes the lower case type. Oi the three type wheels shown; the leit-- hand type wheel il may carry, for instance, eightpoint type; thev middle wheeli ten-point type,rand theright-hand type wheel, twelve-point type. 1 The type wheels may be made of metal.. preferably alight metal, Asuch as an aluminum alloy, or of Bakelite, hard rubber Aor some other similar non-metallic composition'.

Iwill now describe the inking mechanism with which the present invention is concerned, after which I will explain the mechanism shown for rotating the type wheels to ink them and position them for the selected characters, and the mechanism, operating consequentupon such positioning, for rocking the frame which carries the type wheels and inking mechanism to eilect the impression without disturbing the relation of the type-wheelstotheiniinssystem. l l The type wheels 2l are supplied with ink from "asuitable ink foimtain'by suitable rolls, as best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.' As, there shown, the .ink fountain is mounted on the typevwheel rocking trame il, and comprises the usual founfountain roll 6| is inter-.

.mittently A du r roll Mis mo'unted onv a pair of levers rwhich are pivotally mounted 'on 'ashaft I Liomnalled in thel rocking i'rame.Y -Thcdnctor roll is alternately brought into engagement'with the fountain roll and a reciprocating transfer roll Il, by a cam l1, carried' on the periphery'of oneoi.' the type wheels-2l, as indi-'- cated in Fig. l. #A suitable spring Il serves to maintain either-theroiler in engagement with the y cam, or the ductor roll in engagement with the fountain roll.

The roll is reciprocated to aid in the distribution of ink, in a direction parallel with the axis of the type wheels. lThis roll is secured to a shaft 69, which is engaged by a forked' end of a lever 10, which is pivoted intermediate its ends, as at the rocking frame I0. At its lower end the lever 10 is -provided with a roller 1|, arranged to engage a cam 15, which is drivingly secured tothe shaft 25. The transfer roll-65 transfers the ink from the ductor roll 62 toa form`roll 80, carried by a suitable shaft 0|, Journalled in the rocking frame.

Excess ink on the type wheels is removed by a cleaning or scavenging roll 90 of composition or rubber, carried by a shaft 9|, journalled in the rocking frame I0. Ink is transferred from this roll to a steel roll 92 carried by a shaft 93, journalled in the rocking frame. The ink is removedA from the roll 92 by a pivotally mounted scraper 95retained in contact therewith by a spring 96. A reservoir 91 may be used to prevent the excess ink from reaching the various parts of the mechanism. The inking mechanism rolls are positively driven by suitable gears secured to therethat any of them will be available for printing,

from which it results that the unused characters are likely to be overinked. I have found that my scavenging roll acting on the type wheel between the time of rimprint and the succeeding inking is very effective, asvit removes the surplus ink from the unused characters, sothat a relatively uninked type Wheel is presented to the inking roller, and thus a uniform inking thereof is effected. Such system has additional importance whereseveral wheels are used, only one of which may be active for a considerable period in the operation of the machine.

.I have referred to the inking rolls being all driven by suitable gears. More specifically, I have shown the form roll having `ra gear |0|, and the main scavenging roll av gear |02, each meshing with a gear |00 on the type-wheel shaft.

'I'he secondary scavenging roll 92 has a gearv |03 meshing with the -gear |02.

'I'he feature of my invention which relates to the operation of the fountain roll is best shown in Fig. 4. The shaft ||0 of this roll has secured to it a ratchet Wheel I||. An upright bar ||2 is pivotally attached to the frame of the machine at H3, and at its upper end has a slot ||4 extending about the shaft ||0. Thebar ||2 carries at its upper end a pawl |I5, which is maintained in engagement with the ratchet wheel by g the fountain roll by vadjustable fountain screws I 20J This makes a very simple fountain operation and causes the fountain roll to move forwardly consequent upon each impression.

While my invention is independent of the specific construction of the type wheels, and independent of the means by which the type wheels are positioned under the control of the keyboard, nevertheless, for the sake of completeness, I will specifically describe such construction and operation, so far as shown in the drawings hereof, reference being made to my parent application mentioned fora fuller description.

One face of each type wheel is shown as provided with a recess occupied by. a pin 24 on the next adjacent type wheel. The pin 24 of the type wheel furthest to the right, (Fig. 5) engages a similar recess in a gear 21, which is mounted on the shaft 25. Thus, when the gear is rotated, the type wheels are rotated in unison therewith. The amount vof such rotation is controlled by the key board, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

It will be noted from Fig. 5 that the type wheels may be readily removed without disturbing their driving gear 21, or a type wheel registeringV gear 28, hereinafter to be more fully described. To this end the gears 21 and 28 are mounted on a sleeve 29, carried by the rocking frame I0, and this sleeve, in turn, rotatively supports the shaft 25. Hence, thev shaft 25 may be Withdrawn without disturbing the gears.

The type Wheels 20 are normally rotating and are brought to'a stop with a selected character in the printing position by the operation of the key board. As illustrated, the type wheel driving gear'25 meshes with a gear |4I, which has a splined driving connection with the shaft 40, on which the rocking frame |0 is pivotally mounted. A driving belt (not shown) continuously rotates a pulley |42, which is rotatively mounted on the right-hand end of the-shaft 40,`as illustrated in Fig. 6. The pulley |42 is drivingly connected to the shaft 40 by a normally active slip clutch |43.

As heretofore mentioned, the type wheel..

is,`immediately above the platen bar or at the lowermost point on the type wheels, so that consequent upon the rocking of the frame l0 about the shaft- 40, the lowermost-type will leave an impression on the work sheet which lies across the platen.

The stopping of the rotation of the type wheels .is under direct control of the keyboard. Referring specifically to Fig. 6, the keyboard includes a series of character keys 50. Each character key is supported by an upstanding arm of a lever |5| of ay compound key lever. The levers |5I of all key levers are pivoted to a common shaft |52. The normal position of the key levers is shown by the lever in Fig. 6. Here it will be noted that the keylever |5| is provided with a notch |53, which provides a seat for agpin |54, carried by a lever |55, which forms the other member ofthe compound key lever. 'I'he key levers |55 are pivotally mounted on a common shaft |56. The pins |54 are normally maintained in respective notches by springs |51.

The movement of any released lever |55 from the position shown in Fig. 6 stops the type wheel with the character corresponding to the character represented by such key lever, in printing position. yThis movement of the key lever also releases for action a mechanism which causes the u vanc'ed ata distance selected character,l immediately after thel type wheels to be rocked about their pivot shaft, to cause theselected character to beimpressed uponthe work. Like'wise, this movement alsov causes the platen and paper carriage to be adequivalent to that requiredI by the impression of such character takes place,I thereby positioning thework sheet for the impression of the next succeeding (character. These operations are effected as follows: Y l' The rocking of any lever |58 stops the type wheels by the operation of a corresponding stop lever |88. The shaft 88, which drives the type wheels, is providedC with va series of discs |8|,

which ar`e drivingly secured thereto, there being one disc for each key lever mechanism. Each disc I8| is-providedwith will be noted from Fig. 6 that'these shoulders hold a dinerent'angular position relative to the axis of the shaft 80, s'ich .positions being equal to the angular positions of the type about the periphery 'o f the type Wheels. Each shoulder |82 is arranged to be engaged byan abutment |88 of its respective stop lever are pivted on a bail |88, which is, in turn, otedto the frame at |88. The stops |88 are normallyheld out of the' path of the shoulders of their respective discs |8| by the key lever members |85, heretofore depivscrlbed, When,.however, aA` key is depressed, the corresponding lever |88 is ro'cked in clockwise direction by' its respective spring |81 and causes a spring |88, 'interconnecting such lever and its respective stop lever |88, der |88 into contact with the path of the fsioulder Hence, the rotfa-ly tion ofthe shaft .lll will be" stopped ofthe corresponding stop lever |80. .The friction clutchv |88, heretofore described, Permits' the stopping of the shaft 48 without interference with the operation-of the power mechanismv or damage to' the parts,

a the shaft 88 'stops lthe type wheel with the se- |55 .clutch member is drivingly iected 'character'iri printing position, which char,-

. actery is representedbythe key 58, which was depressed.

' When a disc |8|fenga`8e8^a stop 4lever |88, it

-moves -it forward, 'thereby rocking the bail |88 about its pivot |88, against the action of a spring between the bail and astationary The movement of this bail rocks path of a latch |12,- of a clutch memberi. This secured to a gear ne and both .the member' and the gear are rotatively.

mounted von a "shaft has made will be cammed i lution,

|18; The gear |18 mesheswith a lgear |18, which is driving'ly `connected to. lthe ,driving pulley |82. v

al -singlerevolution type. and when4 theshaftv one complete revoiutignpthelatch |12 out .of engagement by the lever, |18, which, at that time, will have been returned to itsmormal position. y f --The shaft |18,during the first-half of. its revoacts to rock the type wheels to cause an be, made upon the work sheet. As yan eccentric bushing |88 is se' cured on the end of the shaft |18, and through a' connecting rod vI8 I the upper end of which is pivimpressin to oted to the rocking frame lli, which causes such la shoulder |82, and it' |88. The latte levers` s |54 in the to raise the stop shoulfrocked and mechanism to give the fountain roll` whenthe 1' shoulder |82 of such discengages-theabutment f movement.

This stopping of rotation -of l This clutch is of the usu- A-i'n printingpositiomineans to 'rock the carriage `about its pivot to cause an to transfer ink from the inking mechanismto the` type wheel, means to intermittently move the frame I8 tomake an n( in Fig. 4, an'indexing gear 28, which rotates as i va unit with the type wheels, engages a precision- 5 Jing .dog |88 as the carriageis swimg downwardly; about its pivot. This engagement ltakes place before the type strikes the work and -is effective' to accurately index the type wheels,

During the last'hali' of the movement or rota- 10 tio rof the shaft m, the type when is retracted from the work. the-paper carriage and platen are advanced into position for the impression ofthe next character by mechanism not shown, and thel keyI lever mechanism is reset to prepare the'key l5 board for fthe impression of the next key by thev operator. The resetting of the lever mechanism is accomplished by4 an enlarged eccentric portion |88 of the shaft |18, which overlies the key `levers |88.'l Consequent'upon the rotation of this 28 eccentric portion of the shaft, these levers are rocked counter-clockwise about their pivots |88, thus withdrawing the stop-shoulder |88 from its corresponding disc |8| andre-engaging the pin notch same time the .spring |81 restores thelever |18, thereby'causing the rotation ofthe shaft |18 to ceas, Vfollowing the completion of one revolution.

I aim:

rocking frame, a anism therefor, both carried bythe frame, said inking mechanism having a fountain'roll, a platen Y toward and from which. the type wheel may be periodic rotations consequent upon the rocking of the frame toward: the Platen and its 'return 2. In a'printing machine, the combination of a rocking frame, a printing wheel nounted therein',an inking system carried by the rocking frame having a fountain .rollerand a form roll to feed ink to the printing wheel, a ratchet wheel on thefountain roll. and a pawl carried independently of the rockingframe and 'coacting -withthe ratchet wheeL'whereby the rocking movement ofthe frame :automatically turns the fountain .roll.

3. In aprinting machine, the combination with a stationary frame of the machine, of a rocking' .frarne-v mounted thereoma type-wheel and an rinking system both mounted on the rocking frame.

. said inking system including a form roll engagthe type wheel, and afountain roll to 4suping roll, saidv foimtain roll havabout lthe shaft of the vfountain roll, and a. pawl carried by the link and coacting ratchet wheel.

'4; In a. printing machine, a main. frame, a 00 type wheel, a carriage pivotally mounted on the frame and adapted to rotatably support the type WheeLmeans to continutmslydrive the type wheel, means tostop the-typewheel witha selected type impression to be. made from such selected.`type, an lnking mechanism for' s'aidtype wheel including an ink fountain and a fountain roll carried by said carriage, means fountain roll aboutits axis consequent upon the rocking of the carriage about its pivot.

5. In a printing machine, the combination of a frame, a plurality o f rotary. type carrying wheels u of the key lever |88. At the 2g;-

1.'In a printing machine, the combination of a 30 type wheel and an inking mechv5l' 'fing' a shaft with aratchet wheel rotatable theremounted in said frame, a platen, means for shifting the frame axially of the wheels as a set with reference to the platen, means for` causing coaction between the platenand a type on one of said wheels, an inking system mounted in the frame and including an inking roller coacting with the entire set of Wheels to supply ink thereto, a

scavenging roller mounted in the frame and coacting with the entire set of wheelsto remove surplus ink therefrom, and' means mounted in the frame for removing surplus ink from the scavenging roller.

, CLIFTON CHISHOLM. 

